People have been clamping newborn's umbilical cords right at birth for centuries, but new research suggests it might be beneficial to wait.
Cord clamping is traditionally carried out within a minute of birth, but the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests waiting one to three.
The organization said holding off on cutting the cord until pulsation has ceased could improve infants' iron status for up to six months. This is especially important for newborns living in low-resource households where iron-rich foods are not as accessible.
WHO does not recommend clamping the umbilical cord earlier than 60 seconds before birth unless the newborn is asphyxiated and needs immediate resuscitation.
A study looked at data from 15 trials which included 3,911 women and their babies. The team observed the hemoglobin concentrations (which indicate healthy blood and sufficient iron levels) in both the women and infants, ScienceDaily reported.
The study found later cord clamping did not affect the risk "hemorrhaging, blood loss or hemoglobin levels," in mothers, but it benefited the babies in a number of ways.
When the cord was cut later, babies had higher hemoglobin levels within a few days of birth, and healthier iron levels up to six months later. The delayed procedure also led to higher birth weights.
"In light of growing evidence that delayed cord clamping increases early hemoglobin concentrations and iron stores in infants, a more liberal approach to delaying clamping of the umbilical cord in healthy babies appears to be warranted," Philippa Middleton, an author of the Australian Research Centre for Health of Women and Babies study, said.
There was a disadvantage to delayed cord clamping; babies who had the procedure later were at a slightly higher risk for jaundice, which can be treated with light therapy.
"Later cord clamping to increase iron stores might be particularly beneficial in settings where severe anemia is common," Middleton said.
